70% of LGBQ Students Sexually Harassed

According to a new study authored by James Gruber, University of Michigan in Dearborn, and Susan Fineran, University of Southern Maine, sexual harassment is often dealt with by school administrators as just another form of bullying; however, the study found that sexual harassment has a greater negative impact on its victims than bullying. “Comparing the Impact of Bullying and Sexual Harassment Victimization on the Mental and Physical Health of Adolescents,” which will be published in the July 2008 issue of Sex Roles, found that a staggering 70% of LGBQ students had been sexually harassed in school. This is twice the percentage (34%) of heterosexual students who reported harassment. The study also found that LGBQ and heterosexual female victims of sexual harassment suffered greater effects on their mental and physical health and more symptoms of trauma than heterosexual male victims.

To read more, check out the New York Times report or read the full study.

New Study on Inclusion of LGBT Parents

In February, GLSEN published the first comprehensive report on the school experiences of LGBT-headed families. Released in partnership with the Family Equality Council and COLAGE, Involved, Invisible, Ignored: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Parents and Their Children in Our Nation's K-12 Schools, found that LGBT parents are more likely to be involved in their children's education than the general parent population, but many LGBT parents and their children also report harassment because of their family structure. Current estimates indicate there are more than seven million LGBT parents with school-age children in the United States. More than half (53%) of parents described various forms of exclusion from their school communities, and 42% of students said they had been verbally harassed at school in the past year because their parents were LGBT. "This report casts doubt on schools' inclusion of different kinds of families in our education system," said GLSEN Executive Director, Kevin Jennings. "LGBT parents are actively engaged in their children's education yet are often not accepted by school communities. Further, their children are often harassed in school simply because of the makeup of their families."

Visit the GLSEN website to read more highlights and access the full report.

Don’t Miss These Important Events

Suicidal Behavior and Suicide Prevention Among LGBT Youth
April 4, 2008 – Atlantic Oakes, Bar Harbor, Maine

Led by Mea Tavares, Maine Youth Action Network, and Effie Malley, Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

This interactive workshop will provide lots of examples and will review terminology, as well as current data and research, about suicidal behavior among LGBT youth and young adults. There will be discussion about LGBT youth culture and development and an examination of risk and protective factors. Finally there will be a discussion of the implications for suicide prevention. Participants will assess their school or agency for LGBT cultural competence and design program adaptations to address the needs of LGBT youth.

For more information contact Joanne DeCampos at jdecampos@mcd.org or 622-7566 ext. 202

Maine LGBTI Health Summit: Challenges, Opportunities, Change
May 29, 2008 – Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine

In Healthy Maine 2010: Opportunities for All sexual orientation and sexual minority status are factors that can lead to health disparities. These health disparities are intensified by a lack of population based data on the LGBTI community resulting in a scarcity of information on the health LGBTI Mainers.

That’s why the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (MECDC) will be hosting its first LGBTI Health Disparities Summit, Maine LGBTI Health Summit — Challenges, Opportunities, Change on Thursday May 29, 2008 at the Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, Maine. Through a combination of educational sessions and workshops the 2008 Summit will focus on increasing awareness of health disparities, advocacy for consumers, and the collection of health related data in LGBTI communities. The keynote will be presented by Dr. Ilan H. Meyer. Registration is $25.

To Register: visit www.neias.org/mecdc/lgbti08.html or call 207-626-3615

Gay Youth News Blog

Looking for a source of up-to-date news relevant to the lives of LGBT youth? We at the Ugly Ducklings Campaign have discovered the informative Gay Youth News Blog: News for LGBT Kids and Their Allies. This very active blog highlights the latest news and events from around the world and also includes occasional editorial entries. Here you will read about schools, parents, organizations, communities, celebrities, politicians, and youth whose actions and policies are having a significant impact, be it positive or negative, on the lives of LGBT youth. So stay informed and keep up the good work!

Check out the Gay Youth News Blog

Lawrence and His Caterpillar

Two weeks ago, on February 12, 15 year-old Lawrence King was shot to death in his school’s computer lab by a 14 year-old classmate.

A picture that accompanied the New York Times article showed Lawrence in December 2006 tenderly cradling a caterpillar in his hand. I looked at Lawrence gently sheltering his little green friend and thought, “Where was the culture of acceptance and reverence-for-life that should have protected Lawrence?” Where was the common voice to say, violence is not acceptable? Where was the common hand to take the gun away from 14 year-old Brandon McInerney with the words: We do not resolve our fear or anger by shooting people?

Tragically, there was no such voice and there was no such hand. We live in a culture that glorifies violence and spreads blatant and covert messages of homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, along with intolerance against a myriad of other groups based on religion, class, and cultural heritage. Violent media and sentiments of targeted hate do not cause physical acts of violence in a simple, connect-the-dots manner. However, we must seriously examine what overall effects a culture of intolerance and glorified violence has on all of us, especially our children.

Since last fall, Lawrence had been living at Casa Pacifica, a center for abused and neglected foster care children, and I can only image what difficulties and trauma Lawrence had already faced in the course of his young life. Yet, despite the hardships, Lawrence graced his community with a warmth and effervescence that endeared him to classmates and administrators alike. “He had a character that was bubbly,” said Marissa Moreno, a fellow 8^th grader. “We would just laugh together. He would smile, then I would smile and then we couldn’t stop.”

Not only did Lawrence have the courage to share love with others in a violent culture, he had the courage to openly love himself. According to classmates, Lawrence publicly stated that he was gay and had since been enduring harassment from a group of male schoolmates. “They teased him because he was different,” said Moreno, “but he wasn’t afraid to show himself.” Lawrence continued to wear make-up and jewelry to school and didn’t hesitate to tell people where he bought his favorite high-heeled boots, which he wore to school almost every day.

I hear many adults say that the hostile sentiments of their communities prevent them from speaking out against anti-LGBT language and sentiments. But this excuse is just not good enough. There are amazing children like Lawrence in every community who are brave enough to wear their favorite boots in the face of violent harassment. But this violence must not be acceptable and these children must have our protection and support. As long as this blog is filled with stories of children who have died because they live in a hostile world, our conviction to forge a safe world for these children must not fail.

Find out how the Ugly Ducklings Campaign is taking a stand against the harassment of LGBTQ youth, and learn how you can support the Campaign.

Read the complete New York Times article, "Boy's Killing, Labeled a Hate Crime, Stuns a Town."

Gay & Lesbian are Not Lewd or Rude

Symbols of smut?
On December 10th 2007, Bethany Laccone, a senior at a Virginia high school, was threatened with suspension if she did not cover up a bright red t-shirt that expressed her pride in being a lesbian. Laccone was told by staff at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, VA, that her shirt violated a section of the school’s dress code prohibiting “bawdy, salacious or sexually suggestive messages.”

And what was the “bawdy,” “suggestive” image on Laccone’s shirt? Two interlocking symbols representing the female gender. There were no eroticized body parts, nor any explicit language. According to Norcom staff, the mere representation of two females joined in a lesbian relationship was, in and of itself, sexually explicit.

Recognizing the pattern
Sadly, Ms. Laccone’s story is not unique. In December, the Ugly Ducklings Campaign was locked out of our account for a week because another member of the blogging community flagged this blog as being possible spam. I can only assume this happened due to our “excessive” use of the words lesbian and gay, as we received a similar spam warning when drafting our e-news. The message advised us that our newsletter, which often contains LGBTQ and its root words, might be blocked from delivery in some in-boxes due to: Use of words common to pornography (porn, xxx, voyeur, etc.)

Enough is enough!
GAY does not equal porn and LESBIAN is not sexually explicit. At the root of both Ms. Laccone’s harassment and our own spam problems is the same bigoted notion that homosexuality is inherently deviant and raunchy. It seems farcical to imagine a young woman getting in trouble for wearing a “Boy Crazy” shirt to school, doesn’t it? Join the Ugly Ducklings Campaign in deconstructing heterosexual privilege in our schools and communities, and vocally celebrate LGBT people for their whole, nuanced selves!

Read more about Bethany Laccone and her super shirt

This Commission Will Make a Difference

Yesterday I attended my first meeting of the Maine Children's Cabinet LGBTQ Youth Commission. What an inspiring day!

The Maine Children's Cabinet believes that all youth and young adults should be able to participate in their schools and communities without concern for discriminatory actions, harassment, and/or violence, because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Cabinet believes that all Maine citizens should appreciate individual differences and ensure that Maine communities are free from any discrimination, harassment and violence, based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The LGBTQ Youth Commission is to recommend practical, actionable strategies to reduce and eliminate anti-LGBTQ discrimination, harassment and violence that can be implemented by individuals and systems in Maine that interact with children, youth, and young adults. Witnessing this group of passionate, highly accomplished LGBT leaders and allies sharing deep insights and important research, I have no doubt that the Commission will succeed in this vital charge!

Please read more about the history and mission of the Maine Children’s Cabinet and its partner organizations.

Do you have any Best Practices for forging safe space for LGBTQ youth? Share them with us by posting a response to this blog!